Release for coin controlled switches



Aug. 6, 1935.

E. L. LIPP Filed NOV. 7, 1932' RELEASE FORvGOIN CONTROLLED SWITCHES ff) Traa/msx Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES RELEASE FOR COIN CONTROLLED SWITCHES Elmer L. Lilli), Los Angeles, Calif., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Rening,

Inc., Reno,

Nev., a corporation of Nevada Application' November 7,

1932, Serial No. 641,496

'l Claims. (Cl. 194-61) My invention relates to time limit controlling devices of the general character disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 637,861, filed October 15, 1932, and entitled Coin controlled switch, and also constitutes an improvement upon the device disclosed in this copending application.

In devices of the character to which my invention relates, a control element is employed in conjunction with means for placing the control element in active condition and a timer operative to return the control element to inactive condition at the end of a prescribed period of time.

It is an object of my invention to provide a device of the abovegeneral character having means which will operate inconsequence of the stopping of, or an attempt to stop, the timing device to return the control element to inactive condition so that before use of the device or means with which the control element is associated can be had, the control element must be placed again in active condition, which in most devices of this general character requires the use of a coin. As an example of the utility of my present invention, it may be stated that the time limit controlling device shown in my present application and in my copending application, Serial No. 637,861, is used in connection with the lease of devices or the sale thereof on deferred payment plans, it being agreed between the seller. and the purchaser that for each working day a coin will be deposited in the controlling device associated with the mechanism being leased or sold, it being the intention that the coin shall 35A be deposited in the controlling device at the beginning of each working day so that at the end of a months period the seller may depend upon collecting from the coin box of the device substantially twenty-live coins. The timing means 40 of a device of this character generally consists of a synchronous motor which is energized whenever the switch forming the control element of the device is closed in consequence of the placing of a coin in the timing device. Such synchronous 45 motors may be stopped by turning oi the supply of electric energy thereto, as by pulling the main Vswitch leading to the mechanism or device to which the timing device is attached. Accordingly, the period of time demarcated by the tim- 50 ing means associated with the control element may be utilized in the ordinary timing device such as shownin my copending application Serial No. 637,861 through portions of a number of consecutive days, by starting the timing device by use of a coin on the rst day, using the mechanism with which the timing deviceis associatedfor a short period of time, and then pulling the'main switch so as to stop the synchronous motor constituting the timing means. On a succeeding day the main switch may be closed and the mechanism 5 made use of for another short period of time during which the synchronous motor will operate.- In this manner the device may be used on consecutive days byuse of a coin on the rst of these consecutive days, in defeat of the intent 10 that the timing device should require the deposit of a coin of specified value on each working day.

Accordingly, my invention has for its object' to provide a coin controlled switch having means for releasing the switch when the timing means 15 associated therewith is stopped, as by the cutting off of the supply of electric current to a synchronous motor constituting such means.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident throughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a coin controlled switch .embodying my invention, this View showing the control element or switch of the device in inactive or open condition.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1, showing the parts of the device disposed in their relative positions when the switch is closed. 30

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section on a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The form of my invention disclosed in the' drawing includes a control element I0 in the form of a switch consisting of upper and lower spring contact members Il and l2 secured to metal posts I3 and I4 mounted in an insulator l5 carried by a supporting plate I6. The control element I0 is adapted to control the operation of a device such as a motor l1, and accordingly the controlling element or switch l0 is inserted in a conductor I8 leading from a main switch 20 to one terminal 2l of the motor I1, and a second conductor 22 is shown connecting the switch 2|) with the other terminal `23 of the motor I1, the conductor 22 being shown with a switch 24 therein whereby the operation of the motor l1 may be stopped by opening the circuit when the switches I0 and 20 are closed. For closing the switch I0, I provide a lever 24 piv- 50 otally secured to the plate I6 by use of a pivot member 25 and having a body of insulation 26 on the rightward .end thereof adapted to -engage the member Il when the lever 24 swings from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 55 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, and to force the member I into engagement with the member I2 to close the switch l0 as shown in Fig. 2. The leftward end of the lever 24 has a latch member 26 secured thereto by a pivot member 21. A spring 28 is secured to a leftwardly projecting arm 30 formed on the latch member 26 in a position to rotate thev latch member 26 and the lever 24 in anti-clockwise direction. For raising the latch member 26 from its position of Fig. 1 to its position of Fig. 2 whereby to swing the lever 24 in clockwise direction and close the switch I6, I provide a coin controlled actuator 3| having a. forwardly projecting knob 32 whereby it may be rotated in anti-clockwise direction from the position in which it is held in Fig. 1 by a spring 33 to the position in which itis shown in Fig. 2 so that a projection 34 carried by the member3| will move rightwardly and upwardly 'from its position of Fig. 1 so as to engage a iinger 35 formed in leftwardly projecting position on the upper portion of the latch member 26, and to carry the nger 35 and the latch member 26 upwardly to a position, as shown in Fig. 2, wherein the finger will be engaged by a spring catch 36 projecting forwardly through an opening 31 in the plate I6. Projecting forwardly from the-plate I6 is a small plate 38 providing a vertical slot 46 through which the finger 35 projects and in which the nger 35 may be moved vertically by the projection 34 of the member 3|. Adjacent the slot 40 a tongue 4| is bent rightwardly from the plate so as to provide a sloping face or cam adapted to be engaged by the shoulder 42 of the member 26 so that as the member 26 moves upwardly it' will also be rotated slightly in clockwise direction as it moves into the raised position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. It will be perceived that the spring 33 has one end thereof secured to the member 3| and the other end secured to the plate 36; A coin receiver 43 is provided having a coin opening 44 leading to a slot indicated by dotted lines 45 so that when a coin is placed 'in the opening 44 and moved rearwardly therein, it will drop through the slot 45 into a pocket 46 formed in theperiphery of the member 3|, as indicated by dotted lines 41. This coin indicated by dotted' lines 41 projects from the periphery of the member 3| so as to engage a latch member 50 pivotally mounted on a screw 5| and provided with a spring 52 for normallyV rotating it in clockwise direction so as to be in position to engage a shoulder 53 on the member 3| and thereby prevent movement of the member 3| in anti-clockwise direction beyond a definite point. The latch member 56 is raised by the coin in the pocket 46 so that it will not drop into engagement with the shoulder 53 as the member 3| is rotated in anticlockwise direction, thereby permitting the movement of the member 3| to be -continued to such an extent that the projection 34`thereof will engage and raise the finger 35 of the member 26 into'the raised or actuated position in which such member 26 is shown in Fig. 2. When the pocket 46 passes downwardly beyond the latch member 50, the coin therein will drop into a coinreceptacle indicated by dotted lines 55 in Fig. 2. Release of the knob 32'will permit the spring 33 to return the member 3| to its initial position of Fig. 1.

The closing of theswitch I0 in consequence of the raising of the member 26, by use of the coin controlled actuating means 3|,`closes the circuit -consisting of conductors I8 and22 so that the electrical device or mechanism represented by the motor I1 may be operated. Mounted on the upper part of the plate I6 isa chronometer element consisting of a small synchronous mot'or 56 which is connected through conductors 51 and 58 with the conductors I8 and 22, so that the closing of the switch I0 in consequence of the operation of the actuating means 3| through use of a coin will energize the motor 56 to rotate a pinion 60 which, through anidler 6|, will transmit rotation *to a timing disc 62 having a forwardly projecting pin 63. The rotation of the disc 62 in anti-clockwise direction, as indicated by the/ arrow 64 in Fig. 2, will carry the pin 63 from its position in Fig. 2 through a circle of rotation 65 so that at the expiration of a period of time determined by the speed of the motor 56 and the gear ratio existing between the members 60 and 62, the pin 63 willreach a position of engagement 66 with a rightwardly projecting shoulder 61 formed at 'the lower end of the member 26, and the continued movement of the member 63 down-l wardly from the position 66 will cause the memberl 26 to rotate on the pivot 21 in rightward direction until the point 68 of -the finger 35 is moved rightwardly from engagement with the catch 36, .whereupon the member 26 will drop to the lowered position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, swinging the lever 24 ,and releasing the switch member II from engagement with the member I2, thereby opening the circuit consisting of the conductors I8 and 22 and prohibiting operation of the motor I1 until the switch I0 is again closed in consequence of the useof a coin in the actuating means 3|, as previously described herein.

From the-foregoing it will be perceived that the timing disc 62 is rotated only when the main switch 20 is closed so as to energize the synchrcnous motor 56. In order to prevent surreptitious stopping of the timing motor 56 whereby to extend the period of time the control element or switch I0 remains closed after the use of a coin, I provide a means 10 for opening the switch I0 should the main switch 20 be opened. Such means 10 comprises an electromagnet 1| havingf'a coil 12 which is connected -to the conductors I8 and 22 in such a manner that when the main switch is closed, the coil will be energized, whereby producing a magnetic flux in a field member 13 forming part of the electromagnet to move the armature 14 associated therewith, against 'the tension of a spring 15, from the open position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 to its closed position of Fig. 2. Extending downwardly from the armature 14 is a plate 16 having a rightwardly bent lower end portion 11 with a slot 18 therein adapted to be engaged by a pin 19 in the upper end of a lever 80', the lower end of which is pivotally attached to the plate I6 by means of a pivot post 8|. Near the upper end of the lever is a forwardly projecting pin 82 which, in consequence of the swinging of theA lever 80 by vmovement of the arl' mature 14, myesbetween the positions in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. On theupper end of the member 26 a dog 84 is pivotally secured by means of a rivet and is normally held in erect position by means of a'at spring 86. When the'member 26 is in raised position as shown in Fig. 2, the dog 84 is held in the path of Ymovement of the forwardly projecting pin 82. Should the main switch be openv at the time the coin controlled actuating means 3| is operated to actuate the member 26, the dog 84 will be moved up into a position to the left of the pin 82 in Fig. 1. 'Ihe closing of the main switch 20 subsequent thereto will energize the electromagnet 1| and cause the amature Il thereof to swing lcftwardly, thereby moving the pin 02 leftwardly from its position of Fig. 1 to its position of Fig. 2, the pin 82 during this movement engaging the dog 64 and swinging it leftwardly against thev action of the spring 86 to permit the pin 82 to move into its leftward position shown in Fig. 2, after which the spring 86 will return the dog 84 to erec-t position. Should the main switch 28 be then opened so as to de-energize the electromagnet 1I, the armature 14 will be released, and the pin 82 will be moved rightwardly from its position of Fig. 2, engaging the dog 84 and moving the member 2,6 rightwardly to cause the finger 35 to move ou-t of engagementl with the catch 38 to permit the member 26 to return to lowered position, resulting in opening of the switch I0. Should the main switch 26 be closed before the operation of the coin controlled actua-tingv means 3i to close the switch ID, the dog 84 will be raised into a position to the right of the pin 62 in Fig. 2, and a later release of the main switch 20 will result in a movemen-t of the -pin 82 in rightward direction to engage the dog 84 and thereby release the member 26 as above described. From the foregoing it will be perceived that my present invention defeats any attempt to delay or extend the period of time the control element I0 remains in inactive condition, for the stopping of the timing motor 56 by pulling the main switch 20 will result in releasing the control element I0 so that the deposit of another coin will be required to again return the same to active condition.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof v are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to Abe accorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A timel limit device of the character described, for permitting or preventing use of a device or mechanism, including: a control element adapted to be placed in active and inactive condition'and to be associated with said device or mechanism in a manner to respectively permit or prevent the use thereof; actuating means for placing said control element in activecondition;

a catch; a latch member connected to said control element and being adapted to engage said catch; a time limit means for disengaging said latch member and said catch so as to return said control element to inactive condition at the end of a prescribed period; and means operating in` consequence of the stopping of said time limit means during said period to disengage said latch member and said catch.

2. A time limit device of the character described for permitting or preventing use of a device or mechanism, including: a control ele-` ment adapted to be placed inactive and inactive condition and to be associated with said device or mechanism in a manner to respectively permit or prevent the use thereof; actuating means for placing said control element in active condition; a catch; a latch member connected to said ccn- Atrol element and being adapted to engage said member from said catch to return said control element to inactive condition at the end of aprescribed period; and an electrical releasing device connected to said circuit and operating in consequence of the reduction of vow of electric energy in said circuit to release said latch member from said catch.

3. A time limit device of the character described for permitting or preventing use of a device or mechanism, including: a control element adapted to be placed in active and inactive condition and to be associated with said device or mechanism in a manner to respectively permit or prevent the use thereof; actuating means for placing said control element in active condition; a catch; a latch member connected to said control element and being adapted to engage said catch to hold said control element in active condition; conductors forming an ,electric circuit; an electrically operated time limit means connected to said circuit, for disengaging said latch member from saidcatch to return said control element to inactive condition at the end of a prescribed period; and an electromagnetic releasing device connected to said circuit, said device having an armature magnetically released when the ilow of electric energy in said circuit drops below a predetermined minimum, said armature having an engagement member for disengaging said latch member from said catch upon release of said armature.

4. A time limit device of the character described, for permitting or preventing use; of a device or mechanism, including: a control elecontrol element to inactive condition at the end o'f a prescribed period; and an electromagnetic releasing device connected to said circuit, said device having an armature magnetically released when the flow of electric energy in said circuit drops below a predetermined minimum, said armature having an engagement member for disengaging said latch member from said catch upon l release of said armature.

5. A time limit device of the character described, for permitting or preventing use of a device or mechanism, including: a control element adapted to be placed in active and inactive condition and to be associated with said device or mechanism in a manner to respectively permit or prevent the use thereof; actuating means for placing said control element in active condition; a catch; a latch member connected to said control element and being adapted to engage said catch to hold said control element inactive condition; conductors forming an electric circuit; switch means automatically opening and closing said circuit in accordance with the placing of said control element in active and inactive conconnected to said circuit, for disengaging said latch member from said catch to return said control element to inactive condition at the end of a prescribed period; and an electromagnetic releasing device connected to said circuit, said device having an armature magnetically released when the flow of electric energy in said circuit drops below a predetermined minimum, said armature having an engagement member for disengaging said latch member from said catch upon release of said armature.

6. A time limit device of the character described, for permitting or preventing use of a device or mechanism, including: a control element adapted to be placed in active and inactive condition and to be associated with said device or mechanism in a manner to respectively permit or prevent the use thereof; a movable member adapted to be moved through a prescribed path of movement, said member engaging and placing said control element in active condition when so moved; and duplex means for returning said control element to inactive condition independently of said movable member, said means comprising a time limit means for returning said control element to inactive condition at the end of a prescribed period, and means operating in consequence of the stopping of said time 'limit means during said period to return said control element to inactive condition.

7. A time limit device of the character described, for permitting or preventing use of a device or mechanism, including: a control element adapted to be placed in active and inactive condition and to be associated with said device or mechamsm in a manner to respectively permit or prevent the use thereof; a movable member adapted to be moved through a prescribed path of movement, said member engaging and placing said control element in active condition when so moved, and means for returning said control element to inactive condition through a path of movement separate from the path of movement of said movable member, said means comprising a time limit means for returning said control element to inactive condition at the end of a prescribed period, and means operating in consequence of the stopping of said time limit means during said period to return said control element to inactive condition.

` ELMER L. mi. 

